Cobalt (CED0000033)

Cobalt belongs to the homogeneous transition metal compounds, a class of homogeneous metal compounds within the inorganic compounds. This exogenous solid has a formula of Co and an average molecular weight of 58.93 g/mol. It is identified as a biological micronutrient, an industrial degradant or impurity, and an environmental heavy metal (PMC10163231). Cobalt is released from various sources, including electrical and electronic equipment such as amplifiers, antennas, coils, and communication cables; food contact materials and meat processing; ladders used in building and construction; and other smoking requisites. It is released from plastics including polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polystyrene, though it is not detected in polyamide or polyvinyl chloride. Recorded exposure routes include touch, oral, and inhalation, and the substance has been detected in the skin and kidney. Cobalt interacts with numerous protein targets to produce various effects. It inhibits carbonic anhydrases 1, 2, and 4, and it inhibits heme synthesis by preventing the synthesis of 5-aminolaevulinate through the inhibition of 5-aminolaevulinate synthase (ALAS1 and ALAS2). Cobalt blocks high-voltage-activated calcium channels, including CACNA1C, CACNG1, CACNA2D1, and CACNA2D2, which may impair neurotransmission. It inhibits DNA repair by interacting with zinc finger DNA repair proteins such as PARP1, while radioactive cobalt causes damage to lipids, RNA, and DNA through ionizing events. Additionally, cobalt interacts with specific IgE and IgA antibodies (IGHA1 and IGHA2), resulting in immunosensitization. Other recorded protein targets include histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) and the estrogen receptor (ESR1).